Chicago

Bulls

Wilson may have shot the ball reasonably well on Thursday, but this was his worst showing in Las Vegas by some distance. More damaging than the 1-of-6 day from beyond the arc was the turnover count, as the lottery pick was responsible for eight. Wilson has said he does not plan to sit at all, but the Bulls will have nothing to play for in their fifth and final game. And his absence could create opportunities for fellow first-round pick Dailyn Swain (four points, two rebounds, one assist, and one steal), who has struggled throughout Chicago’s time in Las Vegas.

Not selected in last month’s draft, Sellers agreed to a two-way contract with the Bulls shortly after the annual selection meeting concluded. During an in-game interview on Tuesday, the former Providence guard said that his goal is to become one of the best defenders in the league. While there’s plenty of work to be done, Sellers showed off the tenacity required to make that dream a reality. The three steals and one blocked shot were excellent production for the guard, who also had a big night on the scoring end. Sellers is unlikely to affect fantasy basketball next season, but the Bulls’ rebuild could lead to him getting credible minutes on occasion.

After losses in his first two summer league games, Wilson got his first victory on Tuesday. The showdown between him and AJ Dybantsa never materialized, as the Wizards shut down the first overall pick, as well as Tre Johnson and Will Riley. Wilson knocked down two more three-pointers, and the perimeter shot that was his big weakness going into the draft has been an asset in Las Vegas. With the Bulls rebuilding and clearly viewing him as a key building block, one can make a case for Wilson being the first rookie off the board in drafts this fall.

Essengue logged just 18 minutes on Monday and appeared to injure his right thumb on a fall during the second half. He remained in the game after getting his hand taped, but the last thing he needs is another injury after playing only two games as a rookie. The good news for Chicago is that Essengue has been active defensively in the team’s first two games, totaling four steals and six blocks. Even with the acquisition of Nic Claxton, Essengue should have ample opportunities to prove himself during the regular season.

While Caleb Wilson has been the toast of summer league, Chicago’s other 2026 first-round pick has struggled mightily in Las Vegas. Swain missed all nine of his field-goal attempts on Monday, including a few layups that failed to draw iron. The good news is that this is “only” summer league, but it would do wonders for Swain’s confidence if he could get going before the end of the week. The Bulls play again on Tuesday, and giving Wilson a day off could make Swain the offensive focal point.

After going off for 35 points in his summer league debut, Wilson was bound to slow down some. That’s precisely what happened, as the Bulls forward started slowly. However, he would do more than score against the Jazz, with the final stat line including two steals and five blocked shots. In fantasy basketball, defensive production can compensate for offensive struggles, so that was good to see from Wilson. The negative from his performance on Monday was the 0-of-6 night at the foul line. Wilson is now 2-of-12 from the charity stripe in Las Vegas, but this should not be a long-term concern for fantasy managers.

While Caleb Wilson put forth a historic performance in the Bulls’ summer opener, fellow first-round pick Swain struggled. Memphis’ perimeter defenders consistently got into the rookie’s body, making it challenging for Swain to handle the ball. The good news is that the inefficient shooting did not carry over into the ball control, as Swain committed just two turnovers. He’ll look to bounce back on Monday when the Bulls face the Jazz in their second game in Las Vegas.

Friday’s game was Essengue’s first action since November 24, as he required season-ending shoulder surgery in early December. With only two NBA games under his belt, this summer league experience is important for the 6-foot-10 forward, who appears to have added some weight/muscle to his slender frame. Essengue didn’t offer much scoring against the Grizzlies, but the six defensive contributions are something that new Bulls head coach Tiago Splitter can work with as he rebuilds the team.

What a night for Wilson, who set the franchise record for most points in a summer league debut. While there were some negatives, most notably the six turnovers, Wilson’s shot-making ability was highly impressive. He shot 7-of-11 from beyond the arc, including one as time expired. Given his perimeter shooting struggles during his lone season at North Carolina, it would be a game-changer for Wilson and the Bulls if he can consistently hit those shots once the games count.

Powell made the All-Star team last year in his first and only season with the Heat. The writing was on the wall after Miami completed the trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason, sending Powell to free agency. The 33-year-old shooting guard has averaged at least 21 points in each of the last two seasons and finished in the top five of Sixth Man of the Year voting in the two years before that. He should be counted on for his scoring once again with the Bulls. Powell certainly adds some legitimacy to Chicago’s young and developing roster.